Beijing: An official survey released on Sunday revealed a decline in factory activity in China in April, highlighting the difficulties facing policymakers in maintaining the economic recovery's momentum.
A monthly purchasing managers' index fell to 49.2 from 51.9 in March, according to the government statistics bureau and an official industry group, on a scale of 100 points, with numbers below 50 indicating activity contraction.
The National Bureau of Statistics and the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing reported that indicators of production, new orders, and employment decreased from the previous month. However, they claimed that the production index stayed above 50, indicating that there was still expansion.
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Following the abrupt end of anti-virus controls, China's economic growth accelerated in the first quarter of this year. Authorities issued a warning, however, citing the world's No. 2 economy's weak domestic market demand and the likelihood that the nation will face import and export pressures in the upcoming months.
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Senior statistician for the bureau Zhao Qinghe stated on Sunday that a lack of market demand and the relatively high base figure from the first quarter's rapid recovery were both contributing factors to the manufacturing purchasing managers' index's decline.
Additionally, according to official data, the index tracking non-manufacturing commercial activities decreased slightly from 58.2 in March to 56.4. The composite PMI decreased from 57 last month to 54.4 this month.
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The Chinese government conservatively set this year's economic growth target at "around 5%," which will only be achieved if GDP expands more quickly in the coming months.
The government previously declared that it would implement a number of measures to "stabilise growth," boost domestic demand, and support the growth of new industries.